Gerard Schwarz

Frost School Distinguished Professor of Music, Conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra

October 2019

Known internationally for his moving performances, Gerard Schwarz is Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony, and Music Director of the All-Star Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival, the Mozart Orchestra of New York, and Conductor Emeritus of New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival. He has recorded over 350 albums as a conductor, and has received 6 Emmy awards, 14 Grammy nominations, 8 ASCAP Awards and numerous other accolades. He is a noted composer, and a champion of new music, having conducted more than 300 world premieres. His much-anticipated memoir, “Gerard Schwarz: Behind the Baton,” was published in March 2017.

Latest Achievement

Appointed as the Frost School of Music Distinguished Professor of Music, and de facto Conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra. He succeeds Thomas Sleeper, who conducted the Frost Symphony Orchestra for 25 years.

What He Says

“I hope I will be able to add to the growth of this wonderful school of music,” says the maestro. “Specifically, I would like to expand the graduate conducting program to train conductors, who will lead ensembles of all levels.” Schwarz is also talking with Frost Dean Shelly Berg about annual festivals, beginning with one on 20th century American music. “I have always believed in the interaction of the community with an orchestra or school, and I would like to expand this with the Frost Symphony Orchestra.” On the programming side, Schwarz says he’ll focus on three areas: “The most important works of the great repertoire of the past, works that have proven to be excellent of the 20th century that need exposure, and new works.”